Hidalgo sheriff takes the stand in conspiracy trial

By Aaron Nelsen :
August 2, 2013
: Updated: August 2, 2013 5:32pm

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McALLEN — The drug conspiracy trial of a former Hidalgo County sheriff's deputy has persistently turned attention to his one-time boss, Sheriff Lupe Treviño, who in a dramatic turn took the stand Friday to respond to allegations of illegal campaign fundraising tactics and how much he knew of his deputies' illicit activities.

Jorge Garza, a retired warrant officer accused of helping to steal drug loads from smugglers for resale, is the only former lawman to stand trial in a scandal that has brought down the sheriff's son and called into question the integrity of Treviño, who has cast himself as a model lawman in a region where many have fallen victim to corruption.

During the fourth day of testimony that has drawn more attention to the sheriff than it has revealed about the defendant, Garza, defense attorney Lilly Ann Gutierrez verbally sparred with Treviño for hours over campaign contributions and his handling of subordinates.

Gutierrez subpoenaed Treviño after damaging testimony from witnesses earlier in the week alleging that deputies were bullied by superiors into raising money for the sheriff's political campaign.

The trial will resume Monday with Treviño back on the stand.

Eight former lawmen have pleaded guilty to federal charges, including several members of a now-defunct multidepartment, anti-narcotics task force called the Panama Unit.

A day after James Phil “J.P.” Flores, a former deputy who used to head the sheriff's Crime Stoppers program, testified about an intimidating office environment where employees were expected to raise money for the sheriff's various fundraising events, another former Hidalgo County sheriff's deputy, Fabian Rodriguez, testified that you either played ball or face reprisals.

“(Joe Padilla) put fear in you,” Rodriguez testified about his former commander. “I'm fearing telling you this right now.”

Gutierrez subpoenaed several men implicated in the scandal, including Padilla and Charlie Vela, an investigator for the Hidalgo County District Attorney's Office who was promptly fired Thursday after invoking his 5th amendment right not to testify. Padilla also took the 5th amendment.

Trevino told the court earlier Friday: “As an elected official I think it is the right of the people to know. I have nothing to hide.”